Does Medicare Cover Eylea?

Eylea is an injection to treat macular degeneration, a condition that can eventually result in blindness. People may develop macular degeneration with age or as a side effect of nerve and blood vessel damage from uncontrolled diabetes.

Does Eylea Improve Vision?

Although Eylea does not cure macular degeneration, it can slow down the vision loss caused by this condition. People who received this treatment in clinical trials reported that they could see small details and read more clearly after the treatment.

Does Medicare Cover Eylea Injections?

Medicare Part B and Advantage plans may pay for Eylea if your doctor says it's a medically necessary treatment for your macular degeneration diagnosis. You or your physician may need to submit documentation detailing the medical necessity to your plan to get approval of the treatment before it's provided. Before Medicare will cover charges related to Eylea, you must also meet your deductible for that year.

How Do You Take Eylea?

Eylea comes in a 2 mg dose. The healthcare provider injects the medication into each eye once a month for 3 months, then once every 2 months.

Eylea Side Effects

You may notice "floaters" in your vision after receiving this injection. Your eye doctor will monitor the pressure in your eyes during Eylea treatments. You may be at increased risk for blood clots, stroke and heart attack on this medication.

Call your healthcare provider right away if you experience blurry vision, light sensitivity, redness or pain in the eyes after an Eylea injection. Getting pregnant while receiving this treatment can affect fetal development, so you should use contraception if that is a concern.

How Long Can You Take Eylea?

The manufacturer of Eylea reports that you can achieve and maintain better vision with this drug for up to 4 years, according to studies of people who have wet age-related macular degeneration.